Point guard Russell Westbrook will miss the start of the season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but this just could end up being a blessing in disguise in the long run. It will give the other guards on the Thunder plenty of time to get used to playing in pressure situations, but without the gloom of a playoff loss behind it. It will give them time to grow, which just could end up helping out come playoff time.

Enjoyed the piece by Grantland’s Zach Lowe below, and his stuff is always worth checking out and it speaks to the same point.

You can bet that when Westbrook comes back it will be with a chip on his shoulder. He already had it on there before, so with all the chatter I bet it will get a bit bigger.

Kevin Durant has not tired of his sidekick yet, but this is starting to feel a little bit like the Kevin Garnett-Stephon Marbury dynamic. It is not nearly that dysfunctional yet, but with another early playoff exit something tells me that tempers would flare at that point. Let us hope that it does not go in that direction though.

In any case, sending out good thoughts to Westbrook as he rehabs and here is hoping that he helps key the Thunder to a long playoff run.